Condi: The Problem with Big Thinkers

The most dramatic moment of Condoleezza Rice's testimony before the 9/11 commission last week--her confrontation with former Senator Bob Kerrey--was also the most revealing. Kerrey was hammering Rice about the President's now famous "fly swatting" remark. Bush had asked Rice for a comprehensive strategy for dealing with al-Qaeda; he didn't want any more futile pinprick attacks. "What fly had he swatted?" Kerrey demanded. And a minute later: "Why didn't we respond to the [bombing of the U.S.S.] Cole? Why didn't we swat that fly?"

Rice replied that she had been "blown away" by a "brilliant" speech Kerrey had given in which...